Storm Johannes, which swept across Sweden, Norway, and Finland in December, has caused widespread destruction, with preliminary estimates indicating that around ten million cubic metres of wood were felled in Sweden alone. The Swedish Forest Agency described Johannes as "probably the most extensive storm to hit the country in the past ten years" and the fourth most destructive since the 1930s.
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The hardest-hit areas include Dalarna and Gävleborgs län, just under 300 km north of Stockholm, with significant damage extending from Uppland to Norrbotten County on the Finnish border. Fredrik Munter, CEO of Mellanskog's Forest Owners' Association, noted that billions of Swedish kronor worth of trees have been felled, though salvage is possible depending on processing conditions. Timber quality will deteriorate as temperatures rise.
Three fatalities were reported in Sweden, while Finland and Norway reported none. Forest coordinator Magnus Martinsson emphasised the difficulty of precise assessments due to ongoing harsh weather. The Swedish Forestry Agency cautioned that the final estimate could still change.
The storm follows a decade of volatile weather events affecting forestry, underscoring the vulnerability of timber resources and the challenges faced by the Nordic forest industry in disaster management and recovery.
Source: www.wood-supply.dk
